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Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Types of TTP

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura may occur at any age, but the median age at diagnosis is 35 years; it occurs more often in females than males. There are several types of TTP. The most common type is chronic relapsing TTP, which may be congenital, and usually manifests in childhood. Recurrences occur frequently and regularly at approximately three-week intervals. Chronic relapsing TTP can be prevented by the transfusion of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) or cryosupernatant that lacks the largest plasmatic vWF multimers about every 21 days. Acute idiopathic TTP is a more common form and usually manifests between adolescence and middle life. It is usually more severe than chronic relapsing TTP. The disease occurs at intermittent and unpredictable intervals. About two-thirds of the patients in whom the initial treatment is successful never experience the disease again (Table 5).